Clamping device



Oct. 7,1947; R. J. MILLETTE- 2,428,631

FLAMPING DEVICE Filed Oct. 3, 1945 16 4 10 k/ L L IJHH jmrezzi'o? 7 RM I W /WZJ Patented Oct. 7, 1947 UNITED STATE S @PAT E N T 10 F-F'I C E CLAMPING DEVICE Roland J. Millctte, Boston, Mass.

-Ap'p'lication-0ctober 3, 1945, Serial 'No.619,99'7

-Glaims. "1

This :invention relates to a clamping device "to 'holdradio tubes. and the Ilikein "fixed :positlon.

:My principal object :is .to provide a. simplified clamping idevice'to :hold aradi'o tu-beor the like inpositionina socket'regardless of what changes inposition or stress "or vibration the tube is subjectedtto.

Another object'is to provide 'aclamping device that is -especially simple to install in place and to clamp and unclamp around a tube. Aiurther object is to reduce the ic'ost of producing such a. device by using fewer and simpler parts than have heretofore.

Reference is made to my pending patent application, Serial No. 577,527, filing date February 12, 1945.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction-andcombination of parts such as is disclosed by the drawings and specification. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to change and modifications, and, therefore, I am not to be limited to said disclosure; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my clamping device showing a radio tube clamped thereto.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 22 of Figure 1, the dash lines indicating the spring clamp in normal or unclamped position.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view similar to Figure 1, showing my device clamped to a metal tube.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of my clamping device in unclamped position and without the radio tube, the chassis and post being shown in section.

As illustrated, my clamping device has a support or chassis in which the usual radio tube socket l I is mounted by screws l2. Contact lugs I3 extend from said socket ll.

Said chassis ID has a hole l5 therein through which a screw l6 passes into engagement with a screw threaded hole I! in a post It to firmly attach said post to said chassis l0.

Said post l8 has a. laterally extending groove therein slightly below the top, and a hole 2! that extends laterally therethrough just below said groove 20, and is just large enough to receive a spring wire 26 later described.

Set in said socket H is a radio tube T which has a base portion 24, the top edge of which is in substantial horizontal alinement with the lower extremity of said hole 2|.

A clamping spring or wire 26 hold said tube T fixedly in position. It has a tube retaining portion forming less than a complete circle normally. One end portion 21 of said spring wire extremity is bent over 'as at .28 to keep said 'end in said-hole'zl. Since the bottom of saidhole 21 and the top edge of said tube base 24 are in the same horizontal plane, the circular portion .of said spring wire '26 naturally'rests on said top edge, in which location it is most effective as a clamping means to prevent any movement upwardly of said tube T. The opposite end of said clamping spring 25 has an extension portion 29 which is at substantially a right angle to the adjoining circular portion of said clamping spring and part of which when in clamping position, extends into said groove 26 and presses against said post it. A loop 29a is formed at the end extremity of said extension portion 29 for convenience and by which said clamping spring 2'6 is pressed by a. persons thumb to or from clamping position.

When said spring 26 extends around said tube T and crosses over an end portionof itself, as shown in Figure 2 Of the drawings, and bears against said post it, said clamping spring 26 is under tension and the tube T is held tightly and irremovably in said socket H. By moving said extension portion 29 away from and above said post is said clamping spring is loosened and said tube T can readily be removed from or inserted in said socket.

The circular portion of said clamping spring 26 normally forms at least two-thirds of a circle, as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings partly by dash lines. When it is in clamping position a complete circle i formed and the two free ends 21 and 29 of my device cross each other.

What I claim is:

1. A clamping device to hold a radio tube or the like comprising supporting means, a post attached to said supporting means, a spring member embodying an encircling portion and having an end portion engaging said post and extending outwardly therefrom and joining said encircling portion and having another end portion extending outwardly and joining said encircling portion and which is adapted to detachably engage said post under tension when in clamping position, said end portions crossing each other beyond said encircling portion when in clamping position.

2. A clamping device to hold a radio tube or the like comprising supporting means adapted to support a radio tube in vertical position, a post attached to said supporting means extending vertically parallel with said tube, a spring member embodying an encircling portion and having an end portion engaging said post and extending outwardly therefrom and joining said encircling portion and having another end portion extending outwardly and joining said encircling portion and which is adapted to detachably engage said post under tension when 3 in clamping position, said end portions extending towards each other in a direction towards said post and being adjacent each other where they engage said post, said encircling and end portions extending substantially horizontally when in clamping position.

3. A clamping device to hold a radio tube or the like comprising supporting means, a post' attached to said supporting means and extendingbeyond said means, a spring member embodying an incomplete circle portion and having one end portion connected to said post and extending horizontally outwardly therefrom and joining said circle portion and having another end portion joining said circle portion and which is adapted to detachably engage said post under tension when in clamping position, said circle portion and end portions when in clamping position forming substantially a complete circle; with said end portions crossing each other adjacent said post, said latter end portion extending outwardly farther beyond said post than said first-mentioned end portion.

4. A clamping device to hold a radio tube or the like comprising supporting means, a post attached to said supporting means and extending beyond said means, said post having a laterally extending groove formed therein and having a hole extending laterally therethrough and below said groove, and a spring member having one end portion extending through said hole, said spring member having a circular portion that normally constitutes at least two-thirds of a circle and a portion at one end connected to said circular portion and extending at an angle there- 4 to and which is adapted when in clamping position to cross said first-mentioned end portion and extend into said groove and thereby bear against said post. 7

5. A clamping device to hold a radio tube or the like comprising a chassis having a hole therein, a post attached to said chassis and extending beyond it and having a screw-threaded longitudinally extending hole therein, a screw extending through said chassis hol into said screw-threaded hole, said post having a laterally extending groove formed therein in the upper portion thereof and having a hole extending laterally therethrough adjacent to and below said groove, and a spring member having one end portion extending through said hole and beyond embodying an outside portion extending at an angle to the adjacent portion so it cannot slip out of said hole, said spring member having a circular portion that constitutes at least two-thirds of a circle and'a portion at one end connected to said circular portion and extending at an angle thereto and which is adapted when in clamping position to cross said firstmentioned end portion and extend into said groove and thereby bear against said post.

ROLAND J. MILLETTE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 7

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Number 'Date Pooler Dec. 4, 945. 

